Network Rail fined £20,000 for train incident at Acton West junction

Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)

Network Rail has been fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,000 following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for health and safety offences after a train hit maintenance equipment at Acton West junction in June 2008.
 Yesterday’s sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court follows an ORR investigation into the incident that found Network Rail had failed to adequately plan, control and monitor the safety measures needed before its workers accessed the tracks.
 Commenting on the case, Allan Spence, ORR’s deputy chief inspector of railways, said:
 "Network Rail’s poor management and planning of maintenance work at Acton West junction put rail workers in danger. In this instance, it is very fortunate that no one was injured. The safety of workers and passengers on Britain’s railways is one of the rail regulator’s key priorities. Our railways are among the safest in Europe, but there is always room for improvement. Network Rail has made considerable changes to improve safety at its work sites since this incident, but ORR will always take appropriate enforcement action - including prosecution - when necessary to protect the safety of those working or travelling on the railway."
 The full press notice is available at: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10728